Gardaí bring more child porn charges against former priest

Additional charges were brought today against a defrocked priest accused of possessing thousands of pornographic images of children.

Oliver O'Grady (aged 65), with an address at a hostel, on Charlemont Street, in Dublin 2, had been arrested on December 10 last and charged with possessing child pornography.

He had been remanded on bail and at his fifth appearance at Dublin District Court today, Detective Garda Johanna Doyle told Judge Cormac Dunne that three further charges have been brought against Mr O'Grady.

These charges allege possessing and importation of child pornography at Dublin Airport on February 15 last year and possession of child pornography at a storage unit in Tallaght, on December 10 last.

After they were put to him he “made no comment.”

Det-Gda Doyle of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation also told the court that he has been complying with the terms of his bail.

A state solicitor told the court that the DPP had directed “trial on indictment on the new charges and the existing charge” meaning his case will be sent forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Dunne granted legal aid to Mr O'Grady, who remained silent during his brief court appearance. He was remanded on bail to appear again in May when he is to served with a book of evidence and returned for trial.

Previously, the court had heard that the defendant had lived at various addresses in Ireland since he was deported from the United States, in 2001. He rents a lock-up facility and a postbox to store his personal belongings.

As part of his bail conditions he must sign on twice daily at Harcourt Terrace garda station.

Mr O'Grady also gave an undertaking earlier not to seek travel documentation and has surrendered his passport to gardaí.

The material allegedly confiscated included images and videos on a USB key, an external hard drive and a laptop.

Det-Gda Doyle had told the court earlier: “We are talking about thousands upon thousands of images of child pornography. Children from the age of two and three up to teenage boys and girls.”